Still Life With a Mandolin #161

Wendy commented that like her I am a 'recording' type photographer, reacting to my surroundings. She challenged me to get some flowers, set them up on a table near a window with the light falling sideways onto them. I built a still life with a few more objects that were sympathetic to the flowers and took the photograph, as challenged, using the natural light and as wide open an aperture as possible.

Thank you Wendy! If I never photograph a mandolin ever again I won’t mind. I learnt a lot about sorting the background out doing this photograph as well as composition and balance. I had Googled still lifes, old masters,I used every lens we own, moved around furniture in my studio (dining room) and this is the last of many shots taken. I was also inspired by this and nicked his title too!

[Mona]

Extremely beautiful. Love it. Fave.

[JackieR]

@farmreporter Here you go Wendy. My one hundred and sixty-first attempt!!

[Wendy]

So well done and so well researched! Excellent job! I absolutely love it and it is a FAV!
I am not sorry that it took you so many tries - well worth it in my mind because I think you learned a ton from this exercise!
Wish I could FAV it more than once!

[Sally Ings]

Very cool still life. Love the colour of the flowers.

[Brennie B]

such an interesting shot.. love those flowers the colour is great

[Diana]

Awesome image Jackie, so well executed! The flowers, reflections in the mugs, everything is just picture perfect. FAV

[Hazel]

I am drawn by the specs, the beautiful peonies and the little reflections.

[John Sutton]

Lovely flowers and the reflections 😊

[JackieR]

@mona65 Mona, thank you so very very much
@farmreporter I am quietly pleased with it!!
@salza they are now fully open and looking plumptious!!
@brennieb thank you Been is, a lot
@ludwigsdiana the pewter mugs are birth gifts for my girls!! Not sure if appropriate to use as props!!
@quietpurplehaze specs there as used in original!!
@johnsutton thank you so much John

[Anne]

This eclectic mix makes for a great shot Jackie

[Dawn]

A very nice still life

[Rob Z]

Very nicely achieved. :)

[Walks @ 7]

Very well composed! A great variety of things to explore here.

[wendy frost]

Great composition and capture with lovely flowers and reflections in the mugs.

[JackieR]

@wendyfrost @joysabin @robz @Dawn @365anne
Aren't still lifes wierd?! I'd never had put this lot together if I'd not copied a painting!! Thank you for your encouraging comments. I'm so surprised it worked

[Merrelyn]

I love this Jackie 😊

[JackieR]

@merrelyn thank you. It wasn't easy, but I learnt so much doing it and fortunately k like it too!!!

[Stephanie]

This is so nice, I love all the different textures and materials and shapes in this shot, fave.

[JackieR]

@stephanies thank you so much